1,308 research outputs found
A Rewriting Logic Approach to Stochastic and Spatial Constraint System Specification and Verification
This paper addresses the issue of specifying, simulating, and verifying
reactive systems in rewriting logic. It presents an executable semantics for
probabilistic, timed, and spatial concurrent constraint programming ---here
called stochastic and spatial concurrent constraint systems (SSCC)--- in the
rewriting logic semantic framework. The approach is based on an enhanced and
generalized model of concurrent constraint programming (CCP) where
computational hierarchical spaces can be assigned to belong to agents. The
executable semantics faithfully represents and operationally captures the
highly concurrent nature, uncertain behavior, and spatial and epistemic
characteristics of reactive systems with flow of information. In SSCC, timing
attributes ---represented by stochastic duration--- can be associated to
processes, and exclusive and independent probabilistic choice is also
supported. SMT solving technology, available from the Maude system, is used to
realize the underlying constraint system of SSCC with quantifier-free formulas
over integers and reals. This results in a fully executable real-time symbolic
specification that can be used for quantitative analysis in the form of
statistical model checking. The main features and capabilities of SSCC are
illustrated with examples throughout the paper. This contribution is part of a
larger research effort aimed at making available formal analysis techniques and
tools, mathematically founded on the CCP approach, to the research community.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1805.0743
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Formalizing graphical notations
The thesis describes research into graphical notations for software engineering, with a principal interest in ways of formalizing them. The research seeks to provide a theoretical basis that will help in designing both notations and the software tools that process them.
The work starts from a survey of literature on notation, followed by a review of techniques for formal description and for computational handling of notations. The survey concentrates on collecting views of the benefits and the problems attending notation use in software development; the review covers picture description languages, grammars and tools such as generic editors and visual programming environments. The main problem of notation is found to be a lack of any coherent, rigorous description methods. The current approaches to this problem are analysed as lacking in consensus on syntax specification and also lacking a clear focus on a defined concept of notated expression.
To address these deficiencies, the thesis embarks upon an exploration of serniotic, linguistic and logical theory; this culminates in a proposed formalization of serniosis in notations, using categorial model theory as a mathematical foundation. An argument about the structure of sign systems leads to an analysis of notation into a layered system of tractable theories, spanning the gap between expressive pictorial medium and subject domain. This notion of 'tectonic' theory aims to treat both diagrams and formulae together.
The research gives details of how syntactic structure can be sketched in a mathematical sense, with examples applying to software development diagrams, offering a new solution to the problem of notation specification. Based on these methods, the thesis discusses directions for resolving the harder problems of supporting notation design, processing and computer-aided generic editing. A number of future research areas are thereby opened up. For practical trial of the ideas, the work proceeds to the development and partial implementation of a system to aid the design of notations and editors. Finally the thesis is evaluated as a contribution to theory in an area which has not attracted a standard approach
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